Co-production in Science – Insights From Risk and Climate Research

In science, it has become widely accepted that inter-and transdisciplinary research approaches are crucial to address complex and multi-layered problems and issues. Environmental risks, natural hazards and climate change are examples of problems that require a plurality of views to be taken into account.
In co-production processes, different groups of stakeholders (i.e. research, practice) work together on specific topics and during the entire knowledge production process. This can increase the acceptance and usability of the results and at the same time enhance the sustainability of the project after its end. However, there are a number of challenges and pitfalls need to be considered in a co-production process. In this course, both the opportunities as well as the challenges of co-production in science will be addressed.

Contents

The course covers the following topics:

• introduction to co-production,
• elaboration of the factors and challenges of co-production and
• exchange of experience on various projects.

About the lecturers

• Dr. Daniela Siedschlag is a geographer by training and post-doctoral researcher at the Department of Urban and Environmental Sociology at the UFZ. She has experience working in projects focusing on risk and climate change perceptions as well as co-production processes.
• Dr. Mariana Madruga de Brito is a postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Urban and Environmental Sociology. One of her research focus is on stakeholder participation in disaster risk management.
• Oliver Gebhardt is a political scientist and economist by training and doctoral researcher at the Department of Economics. Over the last 10 years he conducted economic assessments in the field of climate change adaptation and disaster risk management and provided decision support to political, administrative and private actors.

Didactic Aims

• understand what co-production is,
• know the key factors and challenges for a successful co-production process,
• gain insights of the positive aspects of co-produced outcomes and
• become aware of the positive aspects of conflict-laden inter- and transdisciplinary research exchange

Didactic Elements

In the course we want to work on the topic “Co-production” interactively. Didactic elements are:

• short presentations (project presentation; theoretical input),
• group work,
• World-Café,
• plenary discussion

Target Group

Doctoral Researchers

Required Prior Knowledge

No special knowledge is required to be able to follow the course. Prerequisite is an interest in inter- and transdisciplinary research projects.